Hat finishing machine



0d. 29, 1957 F. R. MARINDIN 2,811,290

HAT FINISHINGMACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE N TOR.

- u eriC/U R.Marzlnd'in Oct. 29, 1957 F. R. MARINDIN 2,811,290

HAT FINISHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR E'ederL'C/r .R. Mal-ind in ATTORNEYS HAT FINISHING MACHINE Frederick R. Marindin, Bethel, Comm, assignor to Dot-an Brothers, Inc., Danbury, Conm, a corporation of Connecticut Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,577

Claims. (Cl. 223-20) This invention relates to machines for finishing the crowns of hat bodies, and more particularly to improved means and method for automatically controlling these operations.

In the finishing of a hat body, three operations are performed which are commonly called pouncing, greasing and ragging. ese operations are customarily performed by automatic or semi-automatic machinery, and in the case of pouncing a relatively small abrasive pad is moved around the hat crown from the tip to the brim thereof and thence back, to abrade the surface of the hat so as to impart thereto the desired finish. A generally similar type of machine is used for greasing, and also for ragging.

In carrying out these operations, the pad or tool used normally moves into contact with the center of the tip in close proximity to the axis of the hat block on which the hat body is supported. As the rate of reciprocation and the feed rate of the tool have constant values, the tip area of the hat body receives more treatment than the side crown area because the linear speed of a point near the tip is considerably less than that of a point on the crown, since the latter is at a much larger radius from the axis of rotation. Thus, the pad or tool is held in contact with the tip area of the hat body for a relatively long time interval. As the tool moves away from the tip, larger areas or surfaces are engaged by the tool in the same time interval, the band portion of the crown receiving the least treatment per unit area. It follows that the pouncing pad when held at the tip of the hat abrades relatively more felt therefrom than from the rest of the crown, tending not only to weaken the crown at this portion but also sometimes creating an objectionable spot or discoloration, as it is a peculiarity of hat bodies that dye concentration thereof decreases toward the center of the cross-section of the felt. Excessive pouncing at the tip would accordingly result in a shade different from that of the side of the crown. In the greasing operation when the pad is applied to the tip a disproportionate amount of time, too much grease is applied and this causes an objectionable spot at the tip because a fresh strip of grease cloth is fed just prior to the start of a cycle. In the case of ragging, an over-long application of the ragging tool results in too much wear at the tip.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a method of finishing a hat body that will not result in weakening the tip of the hat body, or creating thereon a spot or a difierence in shade. A further object is to provide a machine for automatically finishing a hat body in such a manner that the finishing of the tip thereof is of the same quality as that of the rest of the hat crown. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

While the method and machine describedhereinafter for States Patent ice purposes of illustration relate to pouncing, it is to -'be understood that my invention is equally applicable to greasing and ragging. Machines of the type contemplated herein are disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,105,130, 2,137,250 and 2,260,956, a greasing machine being shown in United States Patent No. 2,015,600. Similar machinery may be used for the nagging operation.

Fora fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a side view of an automatic hat pouncing machine according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view indicating successive positions of the pouncing member with respect to the hat block, as the member advances clockwise from a remote rest or starting position to the initial point of contact, and thence along the major surface of the hat body portion;

Fig. 3 is another diagrammatic plan view indicating successive positions of the pouncing member as it advances counterclockwise along a path extending from the brim portion to the crown tip, and thence removed to the rest position remote from the block;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary plan View of the tool controlling cams taken along'the line 4-4- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is another fragmentary plan view of the fixed and movable cam members, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l, with the movable cam member in operative engagement with the fixed cam surface, and the cam follower here shown moving in a clockwise direction after having completed its full counterclockwise traverse to the broken. line position of the cam roller;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary profile view, along the 'line-6-6 of Fig. 5, showing a portion only of the cam follower in its clockwise traverse in engagement with the fixed cam after having'just passed over the movable cam portion here seen in cross section;

Fig. 7 isan enlarged cross-sectional view, along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, showing a portion only of the movable cam member, its supporting bracket, and detent means engaged therebetween;

Fig. 8 isa perspective view of the main cam which con trols the positions of the-tool with respect to the axis of the .hatblock, successive portions of the cam being indicated by letters .to coincide with the'tool positions in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a developed view of the cam shown in Fig. 8; and,

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5, but showing a modified form of the tool controlling cams.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals identify similar parts throughout, it will be seen that the machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base column 14), in the upper part 11 of which is mounted a motor 12 having a driving pulley 13 which, by means of belt 14, drives pulley 15 which may be attached to one end of a horizontally rotatable spindle 16. Mounted on the opposite end of spindle 16 is a rotatable hat support or block 17, on which may be secured a felt hatbody 18.

Abracket 19 extending laterally-from the lower portion of base column 10 pivotally supports a bracket 21 on which is mounted a vertical arm generally indicated at 20 which, accordingly, may pivot about the vertical axis A. Suitable driving means generally indicated at 22, which may preferably be reciprocable hydraulic mechanism, pivots bracket .21 and vertical arm 20 about axis Aby means of a rack and pinion 23.

Vertical arm 20 carries at its upper extremity a tool orpad 24, which is reciprocated by a motor 25 through the mechanism generally indicated at 25 and 27. This 3 mechanism is described in detail in Schultze Patent 2,137,250.

The tool 24 and its vertical supporting arm 20 is swingable toward and away from hat support 17 about axis B,

through the coaction of a cam 30 and a cam follower 31, the latter of which is mounted on an arm 29 connected to arm 20. A movable cam member 32, which is one of the more important features of the present invention, is pivotally mounted on a bracket 33 (see also Fig. 4), protruding horizontally from the base of cam 30 in such manner as to be 'swingable about vertical axis C. Operation of movable cam 32 is effected through a vertical striker arm 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is preferably pivotally secured to a bracket 28 in turn secured to the cam follower arm 29 in fixed relation to roller 31.

The structural details of movable cam member 32, and its operative relation to fixed cam 30 and cam follower 31, may be more clearly understood by reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In the top plan view of Fig. 4, the cam following roller 31 and its associated striker arm 34 are represented as moving in a counterclockwise direction about the vertical axis A, with the roller 31 in position to commence its rise over the more steeply inclined portion 30x of cam 30, and the striker arm 34 having just engaged the right-hand extremity 35 of movable cam member 32. The different contours of the cam 30 may be clearly seen in the partially cut away profile view of Fig. 6, from which it will be understood that the position of the cam roller 31 as seen in Fig. 4 is at the base of the steeply inclined cam slope 30x, and that the roller 31 is in intimate contact with the surface of cam 30, the movable cam 32 having not yet been swung by counterclockwise motion (Fig. 4) of striker arm 34 to a position overlying the surface of cam 30.

As the roller 31 continues its counterclockwise movement from the position shown in Fig. 4, and climbs the steep slope 30x to the less precipitous rise 3031 of cam 30, the striker arm 34, which remains at a constant radial distance from vertical axis A, presses against the angularly disposed right-hand extremity 35 of movable cam 32 thereby causing the member 32 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its vertical pivot C, until the member 32 assumes the operative position overlying cam 30 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The cam roller 31 and striker arm 34 continue to advance counterclockwise until they reach the extreme position, as illustrated by the dotted representation of roller 31a and striker arm 34a in Fig. 5. In this position of the cam follower 31, the vertical arm 29 (Fig. 1) has swung arm to its extreme outermost position, pivoting about horizontal axis B, and the tool 24 is completely removed from contact with the hat body 18. This is the normal rest position at which the machine may be stopped and hat bodies may be applied to or removed from the hat support 17.

With the machine restarted, the reciprocal driving mechanism 22 (Fig. 1) now reverses the direction of its motion and clockwise rotation is imparted to the vertical arm assembly 20, pivoting about axis A, and the cam roller 31 proceeds down the inclined slope of the cam 30, causing the tool 24 to move inward toward the hat body 18 at the same time that the: tool 24 swings in a clockwise are about the vertical axis A.

Except for the presence of movable cam 32 over the surface of cam 30, as illustrated in cross section in Fig. 6, the roller 31 would rapidly descend the steep slope portion x of cam 30, allowing the tool 24 to engage the hat body 18 at the tip. However, because of the position into which cam 32 has previously been moved by striker arm 34, which position is illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the roller 31 rides over the top surface 32a of cam member 32, thereby holding the tool 24 away from the surface of the hat body 18 until the roller 31 traverses its clockwise arc to its broken line seven oclock position illustrated in Fig. 5, the same posi- 4 tion in which the roller 31 appears in Fig. 6, at which position the roller contacts the lower surface portion 30x of cam 30, thus bringing the tool 24 into contact with the surface of the hat body 18 at a point (Fig. 2) beyond the tip 18a of the crown, where the relative motion between the rotating hat body 18 and the tool 24 is sufficient to prevent the formation of a spot on the center crown tip of the hat.

As shown by the diagrammatic plan view of Fig. 2, the tool 24 is advanced under the control of cam roller 31, and cams 30 and 32, from its remote rest position represented at 24a, through the positions represented at 24b, 24c and 24d until the tool reaches position 246 where it makes initial contact with the surface of the hat body at 18c, beyond the center of crown tip 18a. As the cam roller continues its clockwise traverse it leaves cam 30 and the tool 24 traverses the far side of rotating hat block 17, through the successive positions 243 and 24g (Fig. 2) being held thereagainst by a spring (not shown) to treat the major side wall portions of the hat 18, progressing all the way to the brim portion 1817.

Referring again to Fig; 5 of the drawings, as the roller 31 proceeds in its clockwise traverse, and before it reaches its extreme position in this direction, the striker arm 34 engages the left-hand extremity 36 of movable cam member 32. Further clockwise rotation of the striker arm 34, in engagement with left arm portion 36, moves the cam member 32 in a clockwise direction about its pivotal axis C until the cam 32 assumes the position shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, which shall be referred to as the removed position. The roller 31 and the striker 34 continue their clockwise traverse until they have reached the extreme clockwise position indicated at 31b and 341; by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. At this extreme position the tool 24 occupies position 24g (Fig. 2) in contact with the brim portion 18b of hat body 18.

Upon completing the clockwise rotation, the reciprocal driving mechanism 22 (Fig. 1) again reverses its direction of motion, causing the vertical arm assembly 20 and its associated cam follower 31 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about vertical axis A. Roller 31 now moves from the position 31b, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, in counterclockwise direction along the surface of the cam 30, guiding the tool 24 from its position 24g (Fig. 3) adjacent the brim portion 18b of hat body 18, through successive positions 24g, 24 and 24:: (Fig. 3) around the contour of the major body portion of the hat 18, until the tool 24 reaches position 24d (Fig. 3) in contact with the tip of the hat crown 18a.

Immediately upon reaching the tip 18a, the position of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the roller 31 strikes the rapidly rising incline 30x (Fig. 4) of the cam 30, which removes the tool 24 from contact with the crown portion 18a of the felt hat body, as diagrammatically represented by the position 240 in Fig. 3. At this time the striker arm 34 also engages the right-hand extremity 35 of the movable cam member 32, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, again moving the secondary cam 32 into its operative position. As the roller 31 completes its counterclockwise traverse of cam 30, the tool 24 progresses, as shown in Fig. 3, through position 24b to its remote rest position 24a, thus completing one full operating cycle.

It will, of course, be obvious that by a rearrangemen of structural elements the successive positions assumed by the tool 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be altered to suit any desired operating sequence. For example, the relation of the position controlling cams 30 and 32 may be altered to efiect initial contact between the tool 24 and the hat body at the crown tip 18a, and removal of the tool from contact after completing the operation at position 180 (Fig. 2), to prevent the tool 24 from twice traversing the slowly revolving surface 18a of the crown tip, which otherwise might produce an objectionable spot in t e ent r crown.

Thus, as shown in the modified forms of the cams in Figs. and 11, cam 32 of Fig. 4 has been turned over and designated 32x, with the pivot C of Fig. 4 being relocated at Cx (Figs. 10 and 11) and striker arm 34 of Fig. 4 moved in relation to roll 31, as indicated at 34x in Figs. 10 and 11, so as to maintain proper timing of the mechanism.

Thus, with this modified form of the tool controlling cams, both the tool 24 (Fig. 1) and striker arm 34x (Fig. 10) start from the position 2411 (Fig. 3), and move in a clockwise direction rather than in the counterclockwise direction indicated in Fig. 3. Under these circumstances, the upper surface 320x (Fig. 11) of cam 32x is 01f, or rather removed from, the surface of cam 30, so that the roll 31 follows down the cam track from position a to g (Figs. 8 and 9), thus allowing tool 24 to contact the hat initially at position 24d (Fig. 3), i. e. at the crown tip 180. As roll 31 passes the movable cam face 32m: (Fig. 10), striker arm 34x engages end 35x of movable cam 32x, pushing its upper face 3210: over cam 30 into the position shown in Fig. 11, and accordingly into a position to lift roll 31 on its return travel.

When tool 24 reaches position 24g (Fig. 3), the reversing mechanism hereinbefore referred to reverses the tool, causing it to travel back over the cam from position g to position a (Figs. 8 and 9). This return is, of course, in a counterclockwise direction about the vertical axis, so that tool 24 continues to operate on the crown surface 18 of the hat body until it has reached position 24e (Fig. 2). At that time, roll 31 (Fig. 11) rides up cam surface 32ax, lifting lever 29 (Fig. 1) to tip vertical arm 20 carrying tool 24 away from the hat body 18 before it has reached tip 18a (Fig. 2). As tool 24 continues to move counterclockwise to its position of rest 24a, arm 34x (Fig. 11) contacts end 36x of cam 32x, pivoting it about axis Cx to move top face 32ax from cam 30, thus restoring the mechanism into condition for treating a new hat.

Thus it may be seen that when the modified form of cam shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is used, the traverse directions indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3 are reversed.

If for any reason it is desired to treat the hat tip twice in one cycle, it is only necessary to pivot striker arm 34 to inoperative position.

To assure that the movable cam member 32 remains in either its in or out position, as illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, detent means are provided, as illustrated in cross section by Fig. 7. Any suitable detent may be employed for this purpose, a preferred embodiment being a steel ball 37 mounted in a recess within the movable cam supporting bracket 33 and spring-pressed into engagement with either of two cooperative indentations 3838 in the under surface of movable cam member 32.

The general configuration of cam 30 is indicated by Fig. 8, while the contour of this cam is more clearly shown in the developed view of Fig. 9, wherein the positions of the roller 31 with respect to the contour of the cam are diagrammatically represented. It is to be understood that the cam shape disclosed by Figs. 8 and 9 is merely representative, and that cams of difierent proportions may be required for operation with hat blocks of different sizes and shapes.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for pouncing hats the combination of a machine frame, a mechanism for rotatably mounting a hat block on said frame, a tool member pivotally mounted on said frame on an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said hat support, camming mechanism interposed between said tool member and said frame, a cam follower associated with said camming mechanism and said tool member and constructed to control the engagement of said tool member with a hat on said support, and a drive connected to said tool member and adapted to reciprocate said tool member about its axis as said cam follower travels over said camming mechanism whereby said tool member moves in a full operating cycle between the brim and the tip of a hat on said hat support, said cycle comprising one complete tool traverse in each direction, said camming mechanism and said cam follower being constructed to support said tool member away from the tip of said hat once during each cycle.

2. The combination defined in'claim 1 wherein said camming mechanism includes a cam member whose surface is shaped to urge said tool member against said hat between the brim and the tip and another cam member shaped to move said tool member away from said hat during its movement past said tip, and means for moving said last-mentioned cam member into operative position once during each of said cycles.

3. In a machine for pouncing hats the combination of a machine frame, a mechanism for rotatably mounting a hat block on said frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said hat support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support for movement toward and from said block, a tool mounted on said arm to engage a hat on said block, camming mechanism interposed be-' tween said frame and said arm, a cam follower associated with said camming mechanism and connected to said arm to urge said arm to pivot toward and away from said block to thereby control engagement of said tool and hat, and a drive connected to said support to reciprocate said support about its axis as said cam follower travels over said camming mechanism whereby said tool moves in a full operating cycle between the brim and the tip of said hat, said cycle comprising one complete tool traverse in each direction, said camming mechanism and said cam follower being constructed to support said arm with said tool away from the tip of said hat once during each cycle.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which there is a moveable cam part shaped to coact with said cam follower to pivot said arm away from said block, and means to move said part into operative position once during each of said cycles.

5. In a machine for pouncing hats the combination of a machine frame, a mechanism for rotatably mounting a hat block on said frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said hat support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support for movement toward and from said block, a tool mounted on said arm to engage a hat on said block, control mechanism interposed between said frame and said arm, an apparatus associated with and responsive to said control mechanism and connected to said arm to control the pivotal movement of said arm toward and away from said block to thereby control the engagement of said tool and hat, a drive connected to said support to reciprocate said support about its axis whereby said tool moves in a full operating cycle between the brim and the tip of said hat, said cycle comprising one complete tool traverse in each direction, said control mechanism and said apparatus being constructed to support said arm with said tool away from the tip of said hat once during each cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultze Mar. 22, 1949 

